Vehicle door light device



Aug. 30, 1966 F. T. HILLIARD VEHICLE DOOR LIGHT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1963 1966 F. T. HILLIARD 3,270,191

VEHICLE DOOR LIGHT DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /0 //v VENTOP 209 0 7. H/LL/APD United States Patent 3,270,191 VEHICLE DOOR LIGHT DEVICE Floyd '1. Hilliard, 1709 45th St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,666 10 Claims. (Cl. 249-413) Vehicle keyhole lights are well known in the art. However, it is significant to note that none of the major vehicle manufacturers have used a keyhole illuminator to date. The previous keyhole illuminators are undesirable for many reasons. The keyhole illuminators to date cannot be used with door handles on present day cars without changing the handle, changing the profile of the door, or adding a fixture to the vehicle. The keyhole illuminators to date required costly and extensive replacement of parts in the locking mechanism of the door. A further disadvantage of the prior inventions is that the illuminating devices were actviated each time the door was unlocked or opened which caused a serious drain on the battery.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a device which can be used with the handles on present day vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used without changing the profile of the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used without adding a fixture to the door of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used without costly and expensive replacement of parts in the existing linkage systems of the vehicle doors.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be activated only when the vehicle door is locked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which permits a person to unlock a vehicle door without activating the illuminating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which prevents unnecessary discharge of the battery of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will not be visible unless activated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which illuminates the keyhole area of a vehicle door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which illuminates an area adjacent the keyhole to permit a person to select the proper key for the unlocking of the door.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which will be durable in use, refined in appearance and economical of manufacture.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of the device illustrating illumination of a keyhole;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen on line 22 of FIG. 1 at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device when activated;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 44- of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the electrical system of the device;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the device when the door is in an unlocked position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the device illustrating the relative position of the parts when the push button is depressed and the door is in an unlocked position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 88 of FIG. 4 when the push button is in an outward position, at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 88 of FIG. 4 when the push button is in an inward position, at an enlarged scale.

The numeral 10 generally designates a vehicle door. While the drawings show a passenger door the device would work equally well on a trunk door or the like. A handle 11 is secured to the outside surface of door 10 to facilitate the opening thereof. Handle 11 has a housing 13 extending inwardly through door 10. A hollow push button 15 slidably extends within housing 13. A flat plate 17, comprised of a non-electric conductive material, is secured to the inner wall of push button 15 and at substantially a right angle thereto. Flat plate 17 has a terminal 19 extending transversely thereto. Secured to the outer end of flat plate 17 is a socket means 21 adapted to receive light bulb 23. The electrode 25 of bulb 23 engages the outer surface of terminal 19. Secured to the inner end of flat plate 17 is a hollow plunger shaft 27 having an open outer end. Plunger shaft 27 slidably extends through a hole 29 in the inner end of housing 13. A spring means 31 embraces that portion of plunger shaft 27 which extends within housing 11 and. push button 15. The inner end of spring 31 engages the inside surface of rear wall 33 of housing 11. The outer end of spring 31 engages the inner end of flat plate 17. Spring 31 yieldably maintains push button 15 in an outward position as seen in FIG. 8.

Push button 15 has an aperture in the outer bottom side for the passage of light rays from light bulb 23 to the outer surface of lock 37. A first plunger member 39 has its lower end pivotally secured to the inside of door 10. Plunger member 39 has a flange 41 extending from its upper end at substantially a right angle to the plane of plunger 39 and capable of engaging shaft 27. Pivotally secured to the upper portion of plunger member 39 is a second plunger member 43 extending inwardly therefrom. The innermost portion of plunger member 43 has a flange 45 extending at substantially a right angle from the plane of plunger member 43. Pivotally secured to door 10 is a shift member 47 having a horizontal slot 49 therein capable of receiving flange 45. Shift member 47 is linked to lock 37 by means of arms 51 and 53. Shift member 47 is also linked to an inside lock lever (not shown). Pivotally secured to door 10 is a release member 55 capable of engaging plunger member 43. Release member 55 has a lip 57 extending from the lower portion thereof and engaging a rotary bolt release member 59 which is also pivotally secured to door 10. The lower end of rotary bolt release member engages rotary bolt 61.

A normally open electrical switch 63 is secured to door 10 and has a plunger 65 in the movable path of flange 45 of the second plunger member 43 when door 10 is locked. A first electrical wire 67 extends from electrical switch 63 to a source of electrical energy such as battery 69 which is grounded at 71. A second electrical wire 73 extends from electrical switch 63 through hole 75 in plunger shaft 27, thence outwardly through the inside of plunger shaft 27 and is operatively connected to terminal 19 in flat plate 17. Light bulb 23 is grounded by means of contact with socket means 21 which in turn contacts push button 15 at 77.

The normal method of operation is as follows: Door 10 is in an unlocked position as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 2, shift member 47 will be in a downward position.

The downward position of shift member 47 necessarily causes the inner end of plunger member 4 3 to be in a lowered position. Push button 15 is depressed if so desired thereby causing plunger shaft 27 to engage flange 41 and move flange 41 inwardly. The inward movement of flange 4 1 causes plunger member 43 to be moved inwardly also until flange 45 depresses plunger 65 of electrical switch 63. Although push button 15 is in an inward position door will not become unlocked until lock 37 is turned.

Plunger being depressed closes the electrical circuit and light bulb 2 3 will be activated thereby transmitting light rays through aperture towards the outer surface of lock 3-7. Bulb 23 not only illuminates the outer surface of lock 37 but the surrounding area as well, thereby enabling a person to select the proper key and its insertion into lock 37.

The unique feature of applicants device which permits the door 10 to be unlocked or opened without activating light bulb 23 is most important. Such a device prevents unnecessary drain on the battery. It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 8 that costly replacement of parts is not necessary when installing applicants device in existing doors and door handles. It is simply necessary to install the bulb 23 Within push button 15; cut an aperture in push button 15; replace the existing plunger shaft 27 With a shaft which is hollow; install a plunger-type electrical switch and wire the device as illustrated in FIG. 5 and as previously described.

Thus it can be seen that the device will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my vehicle door light device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in combination,

a vehicle door,

a handle secured to the outside surface of said door,

a push button slidably extending inwardly through said handle for opening said door,

said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom side,

a light bulb in said push button,

a normally open electrical switch secured to said door,

an electrical wire extending from said electrical switch to said light bulb,

said electrical switch operatively connected to a source of electrical energy,

and locking means on said door, said locking means including a linkage means movable between locked and unlocked positions,

said linkage means adapted to engage and close said electrical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their locked posit-ions and said push button is in an inwardly extending position thereby activating said light bulb,

said linkage means being inoperative to close said electrical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their unlocked positions.

2. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in combination,

d a vehicle door, a handle secured to the outside surface of said door, a push button slidaibly extending inwardly through said handle for opening said door, said push but-ton having an aperture in its outer bottom side, a light bulb in said push button, a hollow plunger shaft secured to the inner end of said push button, a normally open electrical switch secured to said door, an electrical wire in said hollow plunger shaft and operatively connected at one end to said light bulb and its other end connected to said electrical switch, said electrical switch operatively connected to a source of electrical energy, and locking means on said door, said locking means including a linkage means movable between locked and unlocked positions, said linkage means adapted to engage and close said electrical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their locked positions and said push button is in an inwardly extending position thereby activating said light bulb, said linkage means being inoperative to close said electrical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their unlocked positions, said hollow plunger shaft engaging and moving said linkage means to close said electrical switch when saidpush button is in an inwardly extending position. 3. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in combination,

a vehicle door, a handle secured to the outside surface of said door, a push button sl-idably extending inwardly through said handle for opening said door, said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom side, a light bulb in said push button, a hollow plunger shaft secured to the inner end of said push button, a normally open electrical switch secured to said door, an electrical Wire in said hollow plunger shaft and operatively connected at one end to said light bulb and its other end connected to said electrical switch, said electrical switch operatively connected to a source of electrical energy, and locking means on said door, said locking means including a linkage means movable between locked and unlocked positions, said linkage means adapted to engage and close said electrical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their locked positions and said push but-ton is in an inwardly extending position thereby activating said light bulb, said linkage means being inoperative to close said electrical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their unlocked positions. 4. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in com bination,

a vehicle door, a handle secured to the outside surface of said door, a push button slidably extending inwardly through said handle for opening said door, said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom side, a light bulb in said push button, a hollow plunger shaft secured to the inner end of said push button, a normally open electrical switch secured to said door, an electrical wire in said hollow plunger shaft and operatively connected at one end to said light bulb and its other end connected to said electrical switch, said electrical switch operatively connected to a source of electrical energy, and a locking means on said door,

said locking means including a first plunger arm member pivotally secured to said door and a second plunger arm member pivotally secured to said first plunger arm member,

trical switch when said door and said linkage means are in their unlocked positions.

a handle secured to the outside surface of said door,

a keyhole in said door below said handle,

a push button slidably extending inwardly through said handle for opening said door,

said first and second plunger arm members being mov- 5 a light bulb in said push button,

able between locked and unlocked positions, said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom said second plunger arm member engaging and closing side for the passage of light rays from said light bulb said electrical switch when said door is in a locked to said keyhole, position and said push button is in an inwardly exa hollow plunger shaft secured to the inner end of said tending position thereby activating said light bulb. 10 push button,

5. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in coma normally open electrical switch secured to said door,

bination, an electrical wire in said hollow plunger shaft and opa vehicle door, eratively connected at one end to said light bulb and a handle secured to the outside surface of said door, its other end connected to said electrical switch,

a housing in said handle, said electrical switch operatively connected to a source a hollow push button slidably extending inwardly of electrical energy,

through said housing, and locking means on said door, said locking means ina keyhole in said door, eluding a linkage means movable between locked and an electrical switch secured to said door, unlocked positions,

asocket means secured to the inside of said push button, said linkage means adapted to engage and close said a light bulb in said socket means, electrical switch when said door and said linkage said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom means are in their locked positions and said push side for the passage of light rays from said light bulb button is in an inwardly extending position thereby to said keyhole, activating said light bulb,

a hollow plunger shaft slidab ly extending through said said link-age means being inoperative to close said elechousing and having its outer end connected to said trical switch when said door and said linkage means push button, are in their unlocked positions.

aspring means in said housing for yieldab-ly maintaining 18. in a vehicle door light device, comprising in comsaid push button in an outward extending position, bination,

an electrical wire in said plunger shaft having one end a vehicle door,

operatively connected to said socket means, a handle secured to the outside surface of said door,

said electrical wire having its other end operatively sea keyhole in said door below said handle,

cured to said electrical switch, a push button slidably extending inwardly through said said electrical switch operatively connected to a source handle for opening said door,

of electrical energy, a light bulb in said push button,

and a locking means on said door, said push button having an aperture in its outer botsaid locking means including a first plunger arm memtorn side for the passage of light rays from said light ber pivotally secured to said door and a second bulb to said keyhole, plunger arm member pivotally secured to said first and a locking means on said door, plunger arm member, and locking means on said door, said locking means insaid first and second plunger arm members being moveluding a linkage means movable between locked and able between locked and unlocked positions, unlocked positions,

said second plunger arm member engaging and closing said linkage means adapted to engage and close said said electrical switch when said door is in a locked electrical switch when said door and said linkage position and said push button is in an inwardly exmeans are in their locked positions and said push tending position thereby activating said light bulb. button is in an inwardly extending position thereby 6. In a vehicle door light device, comp-rising in comactivating said light bulb,

binafign, said linkage means being inoperative to close said eleca vehicle door, trical switch when said door and said linkage means a handle secured to the outside surf-ace of said door, are in their unlocked positions.

a keyhole in said door below said handle, 9. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in coma push button slidably extending inwardly through said bination,

handle for opening said door, a vehicle door,

a light bulb in said push button, a handle secured to the outside surface of said door,

said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom a keyhole in said door below said handle,

side for the passage of light rays from said light bulb a push button slidably extending inwardly through said to id keyhole, handle for opening said door,

a normally open electrical switch secured to said door, a light bulb in said push button,

an electrical wire extending from said electrical switch said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom to said light bulb, side for the passage of light rays from said light bulb said electrical switch operatively connected to a source to said y of electrical energy, and a locking means on said door,

and locking means on said door, said locking means in- Said l fl i g m ans in luding a first plunger arm memcluding a linkage means movable between locked and pivotally s cured to said door and a second plungunlocked positions, er arm member pivotally secured to said first plunger said linkage means adapted to engage and close said arm member,

electrical switch when said door and said linkage Said st nd second plunger arm members being mov means are in their locked positions and said push a l W n l k d and unlocked posit-ions, button is in an inwardly extending position thereby Said $660M p ger arm member engaging and closing activating said light bulb, an electrical switch when said door is in a locked said linkage means being inoperative to close said elec- Position and said P button is in an inwardly tending position thereby activating said light bulb. 10. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in combination,

a vehicle door, a handle secured to the outside surface of said door,

7. In a vehicle door light device, comprising in combin-ation,

a vehicle door,

a keyhole in said door below said handle,

a housing in said handle,

a hollow push button slidably extending inwardly through said housing,

an electrical switch secured to said door,

a flat plate secured to the inner Walls of said push button and at substantially a right angle thereto,

a socket means secured to the outer end of said flat plate,

said fiat plate having a terminal therein extending transversely thereto and operatively connected to said socket means,

a light bulb threadably inserted in said socket means,

said push button having an aperture in its outer bottom side for the passage of light rays from said light bulb to said keyhole,

a hollow plunger shaft slidably extending through said housing and having its outer end secured to said flat plate,

a spring means in said housing for yieldably maintaining said push button in an outward extending position, an electrical wire in said plunger shaft operatively connected to said terminal,

said electrical wire having its other end operatively secured to said electrical switch,

said electrical switch operatively connected to a source of electrical energy,

and a locking means on said door,

said locking means including a first plunger arm member pivotally secured to said door and a second plunger arm member pivotally secured to said first plunger arm member,

said first and second plunger arm members being movable between locked and unlocked positions,

said second plunger arm member engaging and closing said electrical switch when said door is in a locked position and said push button is in an inwardly extending position thereby activating said light bulb.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,273,570 2/1942 Greenlees 2402.l3 2,283,444 5/1942 Koehler 240-2,13

3,162,374 11/1964 Skokut 240-2.13

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. CHALMERS LOGAN, II, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A VEHICLE DOOR LIGHT DEVICE, COMPRISING IN COMINATION, A VEHICLE DOOR, A HANDLE SECURED TO THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID DOOR, A PUSH BUTTON SLIDABLY EXTENDING INWARDLY THROUGH SAID HANDLE FOR OPENING SAID DOOR, SAID PUSH BUTTON HAVING AN APERTURE IN ITS OUTER BOTTOM SIDE, A LIGHT BULB IN SAID PUSH BUTTON, A NORMALLY OPEN ELECTRICAL SWITCH SECURED TO SAID DOOR, AN ELECTRICAL WIRE EXTENDING FROM SAID ELECTRICAL SWITCH TO SAID LIGHT BULB, SAID ELECTRICAL SWITCH OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, AND LOCKING MEANS ON SAID DOOR, SAID LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A LINKAGE MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITIONS, SAID LINKAGE MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND CLOSE SAID ELECTRICAL SWITCH WHEN SAID DOOR AND SAID LINKAGE MEANS ARE IN THEIR LOCKED POSITIONS AND SAID PUSH BUTTON IS IN AN INWARDLY EXTENDING POSITION THEREBY ACTIVATING SAID LIGHT BULB, SAID LINKAGE MEANS BEING INOPERATIVE TO CLOSE SAID ELECTRICAL SWITCH WHEN SAID DOOR AND SAID LINKAGE MEANS ARE IN THEIR UNLOCKED POSITIONS. 